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Sun
Aug
07
Explore Whittier Hill’s rich past highlighting the contributions of John Greenleaf Whittier’s work as an abolitionist and the areas connection with important but often overlooked historical events, movements, and people.
Price: FREE
Sun., 8/7/22 1:00-2:30 pm Whittier Hill Reservation, Amesbury Guide: Avery Ferro, Northeastern University Join Master's in Public History student Avery Ferro for a history walk and talk that explores this beautiful site. Although many local landmarks are named for the famous poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier, there are many names left unsaid that deserve remembrance. Avery's research project focuses on the historical context surrounding Whittier's abolitionist work, including the Underground Railroad, the Fugitive Slave Law, and key African American figures like Charlotte Forten, who left their mark on this area. Many thanks to Dr. Kabria Baumgartner and the Department of Public History at Northeastern University for making this project and talk possible!
Thu
Aug
11
Join naturalist Laura Trudel to learn how to supplement your excursions with these helpful tools!
Price: FREE
Thurs., 8/11/22 9:30-11:30 am Kamon Farm, Ipswich Guide: Laura Trudel, Mass Audubon Naturalist and Educator Apps can be great tools to help you enjoy the natural world in a new way! On this walk, we'll learn to use two fantastic apps: Seek, a plant ID app from iNaturalist; and Merlin, the bird ID app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Seek uses your phone's camera to help narrow down and identify plants, mushrooms, scat, insects, and more! Using Merlin, you can ID photos of birds or even ID them by their songs. Of course apps aren't always perfectly accurate, but they can be a great tool and starting point if you know how to use them!
Sat
Aug
20
Run Greenbelt's annual trail race and enjoy this scenic conservation property!
Price: $40.00
Sat., 8/20/22 9:00 am start, 5k and 10k Vineyard Hill Reservation, Hamilton $40 ($30 for Greenbelt Members!), chip timed by Bay State Timing. Your race fee goes toward Greenbelt's land conservation work! 5k or 10k option (10k is two loops) Non-technical course, with some single track, some carriage roads, one big hill and some muddy sections (and a partridge in a pear tree. Or maybe an owl in a pine tree. That's more likely.). Aluminum reusable water bottle included in registration fee! Aid station at start/finish (which is the turnaround for the 10k) with snacks, water and sports drink.
Fri
Sep
02
Relax with this meditative guided walk at tranquil Julia Bird Reservation in Ipswich. $30/person
Price: $30.00
Fri., 9/2/22 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Julia Bird Reservation, Ipswich $30 / person, RSVP required as space is limited Guide: Nadine Mazzola, Certified Forest Therapist, New England Nature and Forest Therapy Forest Bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a meditative practice from Japan that encourages you to relax by taking in nature with all your senses. Our guide, Nadine Mazzola, will lead us through a series of "invitations" that ask you to use your senses to experience the world around you during these moving meditations. We'll end the walk with a calming plein air tea ceremony. Forest bathing has been shown in studies to have "positive physiological effects, such as blood pressure reduction, improvement of autonomic and immune functions, as well as psychological effects of alleviating depression and improving mental health." (ref.) We hope you'll join us to start your day enjoying nature!
Sat
Sep
17
Tune up your bike and gather your friends to join Greenbelt's annual cycling event and fundraiser! Registration opening soon.
Price: $100.00
Sat., 9/17/22 7:00 am 100-mi Road Ride start (self-nav) 9:00 am 50-mi Road Ride start 9:03 am 40-mi Gravel Grinder start 9:05 am 25-mi Road Ride start Cox Reservation, Essex Greenbelt is excited to host this year's Tour de Greenbelt in person, starting at Cox Reservation in Essex and tour our conservation properties around the county! Finish line festivities, lunch, music, and more! This is a tour, not a race. Beginners are welcome! Gravel Grinder riders should plan to use a gravel or cyclocross bike. More details at tourdegreenbelt.org!
Tue
Sep
20
Join Greenbelt President Kate Bowditch for a guided walk around historic Allyn Cox Reservation, Greenbelt's headquarters.
Price: FREE
Tues., Sept. 20, 2022 5:00-6:00 pm Allyn Cox Reservation 82 Eastern Ave., Essex, MA Part of the annual Trails & Sails week with Essex National Heritage Area!
Sun
Sep
25
Learn the basics of birding with an enthusiastic guide!
Price: FREE
Sun., 9/25/22 8:30 am - 10:30 am Atherton Reservation, West Newbury Learn the basics of birding from scientist and birder Laura Vehring. The group will learn to choose and use the right kind of binoculars, how to spot birds in several habitats, what to listen for in the woods, how to use a few popular bird ID apps, and the features of several common local birds. Please bring a pair of binoculars, if you have some, and a notebook and pencil. If you do not have binoculars, please contact jane@ecga.org to request to borrow a pair -- quantities are limited! Please RSVP as this is a small group. Photo: Craig Gibson
Sat
Oct
01
Bring your pup and learn about the sport of canicross! All speeds welcome!
Price: FREE
Sat., 10/1/22 Various times (see below) Vineyard Hill Reservation, Hamilton If you've ever wanted to try trail running with your dog, here's your chance to borrow gear and learn from an expert on the sport of canicross! For beginners: 8:30 am - gear fitting (limited to 10, see below) 9:00 am - Canicross demo (limited to 10) 9:30 am - Guided Beginner Canicross Run 10:40 am - Beginner Wave of mini race / time trial (it's just for fun, but we'll time it so you can see what an official race would be like!) (Unlimited) For experienced cani runners: 10:30 am - Advanced Wave of mini race / time trial Please arrive in enough time to check in, gear up, and warm up! Guide: Carissa Daniels Space and gear are limited for the beginner activities, so please RSVP and let us know if you'll be bringing gear or need to borrow it. Gear includes a cani belt (for you), a bungee leash, and a harness (for your dog). Please tell us what breed your dog is and what they weigh so we can bring the right gear. You can email this information to jane@ecga.org after you register. Thank you!
Tue
Oct
04
Visit the site of marsh restoration work being undertaken by a group of local conservation orgs-- with one of the scientists on the job!
Price: FREE
Tues., 10/4/22 9:30 am - 11:30 am Castle Neck River Reservation, Ipswich Guide: Geoff Wilson, Northeast Wetlands Restoration Thanks to a grant from North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Greenbelt is partnering with The Trustees of Reservations to conduct salt marsh restoration work in Ipswich. Together with the restoration expert on the project, we'll visit the area of marsh being restored and will learn about what this restoration entails, why it is important, and how this area of salt marsh may look different in the future.
Thu
Oct
06
History of the river and current/future threats to be explored. Screening followed by Q&A with film director Jerry Monkman!
Price: FREE
"The Merrimack: River at Risk" film screening - Greenbelt member-only event Thursday, Oct. 6 Time TBA HC Media, Studio 101 (2 Merrimack Street), Haverhill REGISTRATION OPENS SEPTEMBER 6! Look for the Member password in your email! Not sure if your membership is current? Reach out to anna@ecga.org to inquire! Enjoy this locally-filmed exploration of the Merrimack River, at a high-tech venue overlooking the river itself! After the film, we'll host a Q&A with the Director, Jerry Monkman.
Sat
Oct
15
Visit a local beaver pond to learn all about these special animals!
Price: FREE
Sat., 10/15/22 1:00-2:30 pm Beaver Pond Reservation, Merrimac, MA Guide: Andrew Prazar, North Shore Nature Programs This is a walk for families and friends of all ages to learn about beavers, right where they live! We'll look at how beavers chew through trees to cut them down and make their homes. We'll also learn how and why they stop streams from flowing and create "beaver ponds." We'll talk about what they eat, what they do when their pond freezes in the winter, how they carry mud to their homes, and how they use their big, flat tails!
Wed
Nov
16
Join Greenbelt staff members to learn how to navigate using our new trails app!
Price: FREE
Wed., 11/16/22 9:30 am - 10:30 am Cox Reservation, Essex Learn to navigate trails using the new GreenbeltGo app! If you've ever worried about getting lost on Greenbelt trails, join us to learn how to use this great navigation tool. Greenbelt's Director of Conservation Technology and Planning Division, Abby Hardy-Moss and our Geographic and Technical Support Specialist Dave Heacock will walk you through how to use the app. You'll learn about the features of the app, how to find maps and directions, and how to use the live location function to help you "stay found" (not lost!) on the trail. Then the group will go for a walk around Cox Reservation to get used to how the map and location functions work, with in-person support from Abby and Dave.
Thu
Nov
17
Explore this extensive property, home to a large beaver lodge and dam, with Greenbelt's Land Manager and Trails Coordinator Dave McKinnon.
Price: FREE
Thurs., 11/17/22 9:30 am - 11:30 am Beaver Pond, Merrimac, MA Greenbelt's Land Manager and Trails Coordinator Dave McKinnon will guide us through this aptly-named property, discussing the ecology, history, and management plans for the local beaver population. Dave previously worked for Beaver Solutions, a company that provides products to humanely resolve human-beaver conflicts. Dave learned to plan out and install deceptive pipes and drainage devices which allow beavers to build their dams while controlling flooding nearby of land. Clarification: This walk will be geared toward adults. If you're looking for kids' beaver walk, please try our event on Sat., 10/15/22. Photo: EcoPhoto
Sun., 12/4/22 1:00-3:00 pm Tompson Street Reservation, Gloucester (Norcross Gateway, on Concord Street) Guide: Ann Mahoney & Co.! Bring your pup and explore Tompson Street Reservation. Our hike will cover about 2 miles of rocky and potentially muddy terrain-- and the dogs love it! Don't forget your leash and your little baggies! If your dog is not the friendly, outgoing type, this may not be the outing for them! Dogs are welcome with their owners at most of our properties, so give us a call if you need help planning a solo adventure with your dog instead!
Wed
Dec
21
Enjoy a peaceful moment at sunset on the Winter Solstice at the top of Sagamore Hill.
Price: FREE
Wed., 12/21/22 4:00-5:15 pm John J. Donovan Reservation at Sagamore Hill, Hamilton Guide: Elizabeth Harkness, Greenbelt Events & Outreach Assistant Join Greenbelt staff for this relaxed walk up to the summit of Sagamore Hill where we'll watch the sun set in silence and then toast the New Year and the return of light! Non-alcoholic bubbly and compostable cups provided.
Some events in the 2022 Film & Lecture Series will be in person, others will be virtual.
82 Eastern Avenue
PO Box 1026
Essex, MA 01929
e. ecga@ecga.org
p. 978.768.7241
EIN: 04-2664297
Greenbelt thanks the photographers whose work is featured prominently on our website: Jerry Monkman, Dorothy Monnelly, Adrian Scholes, David Alden St. Pierre & Neil Ungerleider